St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-06-18
W. G. kENTZEL. Editor

which signifies that you mag know a
gentleman by his horse. his hawk and
his greyhound. Notwithstanding its
high rank, Eroissart makes mention of
this fact, not much to the credit Of the
fidelity Of the species: ''When that un-
happy prince, Richard the Second, was
taken to Flint castle, his favorite grey
hound Immediately deserted him. and
fawned upon his rival BolingbrOke as
If he understood and foreknew the mis-
fortunes Of his former master. This
act Of ingratitude was noted by the un-
fortunate monarch. who declared it to
be the precursor of his DEATH
Hawking was one of the favorite OF
the ancient royal diversions. and ad-
mitted Of participation by the fair sex.
by whom it was greatly enjoyed. 1t
displayed their skill and gracefulness
in the saddle to the greatest advan-
tage. although serious drawback was
the risk incurred. in following the
hounds, of broken limbs. and "a multi
tude of bruises and disasters. 1t has
at various times at later periods been
attempted to revive this sport, but its
dangers have probably interfered with
its permanency as a pastime for ladies.
The Duke and Duchess Of st. Albans
introduced falconry at the fetes at Holly
lodge. Highgate. some fifty years ago.
with great eclat, but it was ultimately
a failure.
Falconry in England can not be
traced with certainty until the reign Of
King Ethelbert. the Saxon monarch. in
$50. The Grand Segnior at one time
kept six thousand falconers in his
service. Britain and Thracc are the
only countries i'm which we have any
evidence that this diversion was an
ciently carried on. and Of the latter Pliny
obscurely alludes to it as being confined
to one particular district. Gibbon OBJ
serves that hawking was scarcely known
to the Romans in the days of Vesparian.
From curious but well authenticated
passages Of history it appears that the
invasion of England by the Danes was
caused by the assassination Of LodbrOg.
the father Of HinSuar and Hubba. who
embarked with his hawks and hounds.
and. being driven on the coast OF Nor
folk, grew so much in favor with the
King of the East Angles for his skill in
hawking that Benre, the King S falconer.
murdered him through jealousy. and
to avenge his death was the first motive
of the landing Of tie Danes in hostile
array.
That ladies were enamored Of the
sport may be gathered from an ancient
sculpture in the church Of Milton Alb.
bas in Dorsetshire. where the consor'
of King Athelstan appears with a falcon
in her hand. tearing q bird. Harold,
afterward King Of England. is repre-
sented in q portrait going on an inn
portant embassy with q hawk on his
hand and a dog under his arm.
According to Froisssrt, King Edward
III. had with him in his army thirty
mounted followers carrying birds. be.
sides sixty couples of strong dogs and
as many greyhounds. with which he
hunted every day while on the march
or in camp" During his reign it was
made felony to steal q hawk. and to
take its egg BY q person even in his
own grounds was punishable BY inn
prisonment for year and a day. or q
fine, at the Kings pleasure. In the
reign of Queen Elizabeth the imprison-
ment was reduced to three months, but
the offender was obliged to find security
for good behavior for seven years or lie
in prison until he did.
Such was the enviable state OF the
loudly-extolled. far-famed '.gOod old
times of England. when people BY the
most unjust and arbitrary laws were
subject to capital punishment fines.
and incarcerations for destroying the
most noxious Of the feathered tribe.
Henry Nv. granted to Sir John Stanley
the Isle Of Man. to be held by homage
and service of two falcons. payable on
each coronation day. and Philip de
Hastang held the manor Of Camberton.
in Cambridgeshire. by the service o.
keeping the Kings falcons.
The species known as the Peregrins
falcon. an inhabitant Of most parts O
Europe, Asia, and South America, was
in the palmy days Of hawking. one Of
the favorite falcons chosen for the sport
Its strength and swiftness are very
great. enabling it to strike down it
prey with great ease. Indeed. it ha'
been known to disable five partridges
in succession.
In some parts Of the United States
similar species of hawk. called the duel
hawk. is found. deriving its appellatiol
from its successful pursuit Of ducks
There is q peculiarly in the method o1
attack which this bird employs whe'
pursuing small game. Instead o
merely dashing at its prey and graspinl
it with its claws. the Peregrine falcoI
J strikes its victim with its breast ant
actually stuns it with the violence o
the blow before seizing it with its claws
The boldness and fcrocity of this bir'
are so great that it was generally EN-
ployed to take the formidable heron
After the heron had been reused from
its meditations near some marsh o
river. the falcon. which had previousl.
been held hooded on its masters hand
J was loosed from its bonds and cast o6
A contest then generally took plac
between the two. each trying to ascen'
above the other for a more advantage
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